Why
he made the list: Because when I think of all
of the people in Vegas nightlife, Jimmy Greenup sticks out like
a man in plaid pants with crazy hair in the middle of a funeral
telling everyone to "cheer up! it's ok, let's all pile into
the hearse and go do some shots!" Jimmy is one of those people
that is passionate about making sure that those around him are
having an absolutely amazing time, and he will go to GREAT lengths
to 'cook up a vibe' that will make even the most boring of people
slip up and crack a smile. This unrelenting focus on entertainment
helps make Las Vegas nightlife what it is, and makes Jimmy Greenup
an easy choice for one of the most influential in the industry.
How
you should know him: As the "Mood Director"
of Tao nightclub, when word spreads of someone having a bad attitude
in his presence - Jimmy suits up and springs into action. If for
some strange reason you don't see him around, just look for the
group of people screaming at the top of their lungs, shots in
hand, smiles so big you could park a truck in them, and arms in
the air pounding to the beat of the song. Jimmy is surely nearby.
Making this
interview happen wasn't easy. Jimmy was in Los Angeles, Jason
Strauss was in New York, Tracy Lee was in Miami, and I was all
over the place. After two weeks of trying, we finally got together
and found out what the heck makes Jimmy Greenup tick:
JC:
Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. Thanks for joining me for an interview and
congratulations on being so damned influential. Let's get straight
to it. How long have you lived in Las Vegas?
JG:
I’ve been living here for about 3 ½ years.
I moved here from Orange County, CA. I would always visit Las
Vegas when I lived in California, and I always felt a connection
to this city. However, I don’t really consider Las Vegas
a city. I consider it a planet. I was drawn to this planet by
the absolutely ridiculous nightlife it had to offer me. Being
able to party my ass off until six in the morning seven nights
a week is probably the biggest reason I live here. I love being
able to do shots at nine in the morning if I want to. It makes
me happy. And there are lots of hot girls here.
JC:
How did you get your start in the nightlife industry?
JG:
I’ve always been very heavily involved in nightlife. From
grinding chicks at junior high dances to DJing parties at my fraternity
house at college, nightlife and parties have been a huge part
of my life. I originally came out here in February 2003 to audition
to be a go-go dancer at Studio 54 (note to ladies: I can shake
my ass). They weren’t hiring any dudes, so they asked me
if I would be interested in working as a “beverage runner”
at a new club they were opening, called Tabu Ultra-Lounge. And
that’s how it all started. That job was sick. I learned
a ton of stuff about Las Vegas nightlife while working there.
And they let me dance on the tables to house music, which was
pretty dope.
JC:
Give me a brief “resume” for yourself?
JG:
February 2003-April 2005 I was a beverage runner at Tabu. I even
got promoted to a barback position, but I hated it because I couldn’t
socialize with the customers too much or hit on hot girls all
night. For the summer of 2005 Mr. Jack LaFleur took me under his
wing and introduced me to his world at The Hard Rock. I was his
right-hand man as the Assistant Director of Rehab. This was my
first step into the realm of hosting/promoting, and Jack was a
great mentor. He even let me DJ a couple of times at Rehab, which
was was one of the coolest things ever. And he has great abs.
From there, I was introduced to the people of TAO nightclub, which
was set to open in September 2005. I originally got hired there
as a VIP host, but I hated wearing a suit. It made me feel like
an adult. So Jason Strauss decided to create the “Mood Director”
position. He’s like the Dr. Frankenstein who created me.
He understands me very well, and he lets me run around TAO like
it’s my playground. It’s so awesome. And that’s
where I’m at today.
JC:
What challenges did you face to get to the level of success
you are at now?
JG:
I left Michigan to move to California with nothing but a Geo Tracker,
$700, 2 suitcases and a boombox. And lots of house music cds.
I didn’t have a job lined up or anything. That was by far
the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my entire life. I didn’t
know anyone when I moved here to Las Vegas. And I moved here with
nothing. I slept on an air mattress for like 6 months. I still
pulled chicks on it though. All my jobs here have been challenging
is some way. Tabu and Tao were both brand new clubs when I started
working at each of them. And Rehab was my first job hosting/promoting.
Partying in Las Vegas night after night is challenging. Like doing
shots of Patron at eight in the morning when you’re already
hammered. That’s a challenge. My hair can be a challenge
at times too. Sometimes it doesn’t cooperate with me, which
is very challenging. And sometimes I can’t decide on what
cd to listen to while I’m getting ready. It gets frustrating
at times.
JC:
What do you feel your most important accomplishments
have been thus far?
JG:
Simply moving out here with nothing, and then unleashing
the Jimmy Greenup experience upon this town. Infecting as many
people as possible with my venom on a night-by-night basis. Having
the title of “Mood Director” is a huge accomplishment
as well. It says “Mood Director” on my business card.
That’s so gangster. And one point earlier this summer I
went out 22 nights in a row. I went through soooo much hair product.
Dressing up in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume for my birthday
party at TAO was a big accomplishment as well. I am very proud
of myself for that one. That was out of control. I make a sweet
Donatello.
JC:
Talk to me about motivation. What keeps you at the top
of your game, and inspires you to constantly innovate?
JG:
When people come out here to Las Vegas, and then they call me
and tell me they had the greatest time of their life out here
partying with me. That’s what keeps me motivated. That’s
why I do it. The look on someone’s face when it’s
three in the morning at TAO on a Saturday night, and there’s
sparklers flying everywhere and it’s snowing on the dancefloor.
That motivates me. People expect me to show them the time of their
lives when they’re out here. Most people in the world don’t
get to do the things I do everyday. I feel like I have a responsibility
to show people the best time possible while partying here in Las
Vegas. Period. When people land here on their spaceships, I am
obligated to show them this world of mine. My hair and my clothes
keep me at the top of my game. I have mad hair game. Red Bull
helps me too. When I drink Red Bull, I feel like Popeye when he
would eat spinach. And I guess I just really, really, really,
really love partying. It’s that simple. There is nothing
I would rather be doing with my life. It is my passion, it is
my craft, and it’s what I was born to do. I was born to
party. When I came out of my mother’s womb, I was making
techno noises and pumping my fist in the air. The doctor even
comped us a bottle in the delivery room. Live to party. Party
to live. It never stops.
JC:
What do you think are the most important elements a nightclub
should have to help ensure it’s customers get their money’s
worth?
JG:
There are sooooooo many things a nightclub has to have in order
for it to be sweet. You have to have fun people working there,
and they have to love working there. I think this is very important.
I’m talking about everyone from security to the front door
to the bathroom attendant. If I’m in a club and someone
who works there is pissed off or rude to me, then I get pissed
off. That’s the worst. If your staff has good energy, I
believe your club will have good energy. You have to have a sick
DJ, and a good sound system. Hot girls working at your club is
always a plus. Good service is important too. When I’m paying
freekin’ $400 for a bottle of vodka, the last thing I want
to do is wait ten minutes for cranberry juice.
JC:
What are the top five clubs in Las Vegas according to you?
JG:
TAO is the bomb. Period. When that place is going off, there’s
nothing like it. The energy level in there can be completely bonkers.
And it snows there. That is so great. I’ve been to 84 million
nightclubs, and I’ve never seen it snow. Except at TAO.
Big ups to Tabu and Body English as well. Those are some of my
favorite places to play when they let me out of my cage.
JC:
Have any advice for tourists wanting to go out?
JG:
Yeah, get ready to get nuts. And bring lots of hot girls.
Or just bring P. Diddy or Paris Hilton with you and you’ll
have no problem getting in anywhere. And be prepared to see lots
of large breasts. There are lots of large breasts in Las Vegas.
This is another reason I live here.
JC:
What else should be included on JackColton.com
to better prepare tourists for their trip?
JG:
Bring lots of money. When you’re partying out here
and you start drinking, the money becomes less and less real.
It transforms into ‘play’ money, and you will spend
lots of it. You will get drunk and think you are in the middle
of a rap video, and you will start buying shots for everyone.
You will meet lots of hot girls, and you will buy them shots.
You will soon be buying shots for anyone you talk to. Example:
“Wait a minute! YOU like ‘Star Wars’!? I LOVE
‘Star Wars’!!! Let’s do a shot!!!” Trust
me. I’ve seen it happen. I bought shots one time for some
people just because they knew the capital of Michigan.
